Corn Journal
  • Corn Journal
  • Author
  • Stalk Rot Booklet
  • Seed Testing
  • Corn Genetics
  • Pathology
  • Sponsors
  • Contact
"You can see a lot by just looking"-Yogi Berra

Why did this plant wilt?

9/3/2020

 
​As a corn plant moves carbohydrates to the developing grain from the leaves and storage pith cells of the stalk, the rate of flow may vary from adjacent corn plants. This rate is determined by genetics and nutrients affecting the flow per kernel and the number of kernels forming on each individual plant.  Environment of each individual plant in field can have sufficient differences that affect number of kernels and amount of photosynthesis in the plant.
 
Those individual corn plants that seem to suddenly turn gray during grain fill have a permanent wilt.  It is not unusual for it to seem sudden, because the plant looked as green as others in the field just a few days previous.  However, closer observation of these individual plants, reveal a few early signs of wilting.  The upright ear starts to point downward, the leaves get a sort of faded green color that can be noticed a couple days before all of that plant’s leaves turn gray.  This symptom is not just the top leaves – it is all leaves on the plant.  The water transportation from the root has stopped.  Probably the continual chain of water molecules in the xylem tissue has been broken, ruining the capillary action needed for supplying the rest of the plant for water needs. 
 
Wilting causes cell functions to stop; no more photosynthesis, no more movement of sugars and minerals, and no more movement of sugars into the grain.  In fact, the kernel forms an abscission layer at the base of each kernel soon after permanent wilt, cutting off all movement of sugars into the grain- or water from the grain. Loss of potential carbohydrate storage in the grain of a wilted plant is determined by the number of days the filling period was cut short.  Grain fill between about 10 days after pollination and day 50 is about 3% per day, between day 50 and day 60 it is about 1% per day. 
 
The contradiction can be that having more kernels on the plant, ultimately caused the roots to die early, resulting in a wilt that cuts off the flow of carbohydrates to kernels. So, there are more kernels than on adjacent plants but less carbohydrate per kernel because of the wilt.
 
And that is just the beginning of the problem for the grower who needs to harvest the corn.

Comments are closed.

    About Corn Journal

    The purpose of this blog is to share perspectives of the biology of corn, its seed and diseases in a mix of technical and not so technical terms with all who are interested in this major crop. With more technical references to any of the topics easily available on the web with a search of key words, the blog will rarely cite references but will attempt to be accurate. Comments are welcome but will be screened before publishing. Comments and questions directed to the author by emails are encouraged.

    Archives

    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

© COPYRIGHT 2023. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
  • Corn Journal
  • Author
  • Stalk Rot Booklet
  • Seed Testing
  • Corn Genetics
  • Pathology
  • Sponsors
  • Contact